Children's care home at 111 Wentworth Drive, Bedford
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Bedford Planning Committee on 13 Oct 2025.
What was proposed
The application sought to change a five-bedroom dwelling into a children’s care home for up to four children, with no external alterations.
“The application seeks permission to change the use of 111 Wentworth Drive, a detached five-bedroom dwelling, from Class C3 (dwellinghouse) to Class C2 (children's care home) for up to four children aged 7-18. The home would be staffed on a rota basis, with four carers present during the day and two at night. No external alterations to the property are proposed.”
“Planning permission is sought for the change of use of the dwelling from Class C3 (dwellinghouse) to Class C2 (children's care home) to accommodate up to four children aged between 7 and 18 years. The home would be staffed on a shift basis, with a maximum of four staff present during the day and two staff overnight.”
Officer report
What consultees said
Highways, Environmental Health and Waste Services raised no objection, with waste services seeking conditions and other consultees making no comments.
“Highways (Development Control) Officer No objections with suggested conditions. Env Health & Trading Standards No objection. Scientific Officer No comments made. Waste Services Manager No objection, subject to conditions.”
“- 28 - Housing Development No comments made. Childrens Services No comments made.”
Officer report
What residents said
Thirty-four objections and a petition raised concerns about parking, traffic, noise, disturbance, neighbourhood character, safety and the notification process.
“In total, 34 written objections have been received, together with a petition signed by 51 local residents from Dunster Gardens, Wentworth Drive and Dover Crescent. The concerns raised can be summarised as follows:”
Officer report
The committee update
The planning officer said children’s services needed short-term provision because council schemes were not yet built and foster-carer numbers were limited.
“The Planning Officer provided an update as follow:”
“Since the last committee when comments were raised, Children Services position has been provided. Children Services have said they have a strategy to build their own care homes for children and whist they would rather not use private homes/care providers there is a shortage of foster carers and the Council’s residential schemes are some way off being built, so these types of proposal meet short term provision/need.”
Minutes
The decision
Permission was granted in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control.
“That permission be granted in respect of the above application in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control.”
“(Note Councillors Foster and Masud did not participate or vote on this application as they had not been present at the meetings of the 15 September 2025).”
Minutes
Sources
- Bedford Planning Committee minutes, 13 October 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Bedford's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Bedford Planning Committee
- Council
- Bedford
- Date
- Monday 13 October 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Bedford committee decisions →
This committee's year
6 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.